Air blast refrigerated cabinet



Oct. 23, 1956 R. E. WALLENBROCK ET AL 2,767,558

AIR BLAST REFRIGERATED CABINET Filed March 50, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l E..f I 5.1.

l L J mmmw @s 66 6M Pa-ZW?" Oct. 23, 1956 R. E. WALLENBROCK ET AL2,767,558

AIR BLAST REFRIGERATED CABINET 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 50, 1955 w:ou

Oct. 23, 1956 R. E. wALLENBRocK ET AL AIR BLAST REFRIGERATED CABINET 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 50, 1955 Oct. 23, 1956 R. E. WALLENBROCK ETAL 2,767,558

AIR BLAST REFRIGERATED CABINET 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 30, 1955@07271 15T Palmer PMCD-H intr/,ses AIR BLAST REFRIGERATED CABINET RalphE. Wallenbroclr and John S. Palmer, Evansville,

d., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Vvhirlpool- Seeger Corporation,a corporation of Delaware Application March 30, 1935, Serial No. 497,97715 Claims. (Cl. (i2-117.259

This invention relates generally to refrigerated cabinets, but is moreparticularly directed to a cabinet of this character that utilizesforced air circulation t-herewithin to accomplish a cooling of thecontents thereof.

ln the conventional vertically arranged domestic or householdmechanically refrigerated cabinet a refrigerant evaporator coolingelement is usually disposed in a portion of the food storage area andthe food items which it is desired be maintained at the lowesttemperatures are generally positioned in closest proximity thereto forcooling purposes. Other portions of the food storage area generallycontain shelves upon which are stored other food articles and thisstorage area is frequently referred to as the food storage compartment.The natural atinity of warm air particles for cold surfaces quitenaturally sets up convection currents of air within the food storagearea which operate to bring the warmer air particles within the cabinetinto contact with the colder surfaces of the evaporator thereby reducingthe temperature of all the air contained within the food storage area.In this manner the temperatures of the food articles in the food storagecompartment are reduced and the heat thus removed is transferred by wayof the refrigerant and the refrigerantcarrying conduits to a condenserfor dissipation to the outside atmosphere in accordance with wellunderstood principles of refrigeration.

Although this type of refrigerated cabinet which is commonly referred toas an upright chest is universally accepteu and widely used it is a wellknown fact that it is not entirely suitable for all the differentpurposes for which it is presently employed. One of the most seriousobjections thereto results from the fact that there is usually anappreciable temperature gradient or variation between different pointswithin the food storage compartment thus creating some confusion as tothe best or proper location in which to store particular food itemstherewithin. In addition, a refrigerated cabinet of this character doesnot have, because of its primary dependence upon the natural convectionof air currents plus only a limited amount of secondary heat conductionalong its interior walls, the flexibility or cooling efhciency desiredin order to eect a proper cooling of all the contents thereof.Furthermore, the natural tendency of refrigerated cabinets of thischaracter to accumulate large deposits of frost in the vicinity of thecolder surfaces in the food storage area, thus requiring frequentremoval or defrosting with possible loss or damage to the contentsduring such removal operations, represents a continuing source ofannoyance and objection to the user thereof. It is a feature of theproposed invention, therefore, to describe a refrigerated cabinet whichintentionally deviates considerably, in structural arrangement, fromthat of the present unsatisfactory and inetticient conventionalcabinets, and which, in so doing provides a cabinet that overcomes thedisadvantageous features and characteristics of such prior cabinets, andwhich, furthermore, is highly adaptable for the storing and cooling offoodstuffs.

One of the principal objects of the present invention 1s StatCS toprovide an upright refrigerated cabinet wherein a substantially uniformtemperature is maintained throughout its food storage area and wherethere is no appreciable deposit or accumulation of frost formationwithin the food storage compartment thereof.

Another principal object is to provide a refrigerated cabinet havingimproved flexibility and cooling efficiency in the cooling of food itemsplaced therewithin.

An important object of the instant inven 'on resides in the provision ofa refrigerated cabinet utilizing forced air circulation to provide forair-blast cooling of the contents thereof.

Another important object is to provide a simplified and removable airduct or llue arrangement for a refrigerated cabinet employing air-blastcooling.

Another object is to provide an improved condensate collecting anddisposal arrangement for a refrigerated cabinet employing forced aircirculation.

A further object is to provide an improved electric heater defroster foran evaporator cooling element in an air-blast refrigerated cabinet.

A still further object is to provide a refrigerated cabinet wherein anevaporator cooling element is remotely disposed from the food storagearea and wherein air circulation means are operative for directing airinto intimate heat exchange relation with said evaporator and thereafterwith the interior and contents of the food storage area of the cabinet.

Another object is to provide in an air-blast type of refrigeratedcabinet an improved condensate collecting and disposal means wherein aportion of the condensate collected operates to provide a positive airand gas seal or trap which restricts the admission into the food storagearea of extraneous matters or air particles from outside the cabinet,and which additionally restricts leakage of air from inside the cabinetto the outside thereof.

A yet still further object is to provide an air-blast type ofrefrigerated cabinet wherein a wall of each, of one or more, individualbasket-like food storage containers coopcrates with the walls of a foodstorage compartment to provide an air duct or air flue for guiding airparticles through said compartment after said particles have been cooledby being passed into intimate thermal contact with a refrigerantevaporator cooling element.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds, and the features of novelty whichcharacterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in theclaims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a betterunderstanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional side view of the proposed cabinet buthaving portions of the components thereof shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the cabinet illustrated inFigure l but shown with the lower portion thereof partially cut-away andwith the cabinet closure door removed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail of the condensate drain cap andtube structure;

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the drain cap shown in engaged relationwith a portion of a defrost heater coil positioned in the refrigerantevaporator;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the drain cap for the .condensatedrainage tube;

Figure 9 isa partial sectional view taken on line of Figure 6;

Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional View showing portions of the cabinetdoor and the cabinet breaker strip assembly;

Figure 1l is a schematic diagram showing the refrigerant circuit and therefrigerant-carrying conduits thereof;`

Figure l2 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the drain capdirectly engaging portions of the evaporator' instead of a defrostheater element;

Figure 13 is an enlarged sectional detail of the electric heater defrostelement; and

Figure 14 isa schematic wiring diagram of the control circuits for therefrigeration apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings it will be noted that thc preferredembodiment, selected for illustrating the teachings of the presentinvention, includes a cabinet, generally indicated by the referencenumeral 10, which is fashioned with an inner shell or liner 11 having afront access opening therein and a similarly conformed outer shell orliner 12 spaced therefrom by suitable heat insulating material 13. Asomewhat similarly fashioned front door or closure member 14 may includean outer liner or panel 15 and an inner panel or pan 16, with suitableheat insulating material 13 therebetween, that is hingedly mounted oncabinet 10 by suitable means such as the hinges 17. The marginal edgesof the outer and inner panels 15 and 16, respectively, of said door, maybe fastened together by means of a conventional resilient gasket sealingmember 18 which, in turn, may be removably attached to the inwardlyturned marginal edge of the outer panel 15 by suitable securing meanssuch as the screws 19. The marginal edges of the inner and outer liners11 and 12, of the cabinet, may be, respectively, inwardly turned andYoder-rolled, as in dicated, and bridged with a breaker strip assemblysuch as is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. Suchnbreakerstrip assembly may include a rigid inner member 21, of low-heatconducting material such as Masonite or a reinforced polyester plasticwhich is afxed to the marginal edges of the respective liners bysuitable means such as the screws 22 and an angle bracket 22a, and anouter or covering strip 23 of any suitable wellknown plastic materialsuch as polystyrene which may be held in place by a resilient membersuch as the spring clip 24. It will be understood, of course, that thedoor 14 will be provided with a suitable latching and handle mechanismbut since these elements form no particular part of the presentinvention they have been omitted from the drawings.

The bottom wall or oor of the cabinet, preferably, is inclined and `thebottom wall or floor portion 11a of the inner liner 11 may be furtherformed as a depressed and stepped area with a sump-like recess or well25 having an opening therein at the bottom thereof. A horizontalpartition or baie-like wall member 26, extending from the front almostto the rear of the cabinet, serves to divide the interior or enclosedarea of the cabinet inner liner into a food storage compartment 27 andan adjoining air-cooling compartment 28. The rear marginal edge 29 ofsaid partition is upwardly turned and spaced from the rear wall of theliner 11 to provide an air passage in the form of an elongated opening30 which extends from one side of said inner liner to the other, while aperforated member or screen 31 may be used to provide an open-type frontwall or grille-like closure over a front access opening of said aircooling compartment 28.

Since the floor or bottom wall of the cabinet is inclined there isprovided a convenient compartmented area 32 therebeneath which may beutilized as a machinery compartment for a portion of the refrigerationapparatus. A conventional hermetic-type motor-compressor unit 33 issupportably positioned within said latter compartment,

by suitable means such as the support brackets 34, and a staticcondenser 35 may be suspendedly supported from said motor-compressor bysuitable brackets such as shown by the reference numeral 36. A generallyconventional tube and finned-type of refrigerant evaporator 37 ispositioned with the air cooling compartment 28 along with a suitable aircirculating or air-moving means. Such air circulating means may includea conventional axial air inlet centrifugal blower 33 mounted in ashrouded scroll-like housing or casing 39 and driven by an electricmotor disposed adjacent thereto in compartment 28.` A verticallydisposed wall 40 which provides a rear wall for the air coolingcompartment 2S additionally functions to provide a batlle or partitionwhich tends to direct or channel the air in said cooling compartmentinto the axial inlet of said blower. The shrouded scroll 39 exhauststhrough an opening in said baffle wall 4t) into a converging duct orflue-like air passageway 41 which communicates with the elongatedopening or air passageway 30. Thus air admitted through the perforatedfront wall or grille member 31 is first cooled by passing through andinto intimate heat exchange relation with the evaporator 37 andthereafter is circulated by the blower fan 3S into the duct or flue 4lfrom whence it emerges by way` of air passageway 30 into the foodstorage compartment 27.

The refrigeration apparatus, which is shown schematically in Figure ll,includes a motor-compressor 33 which discharges by way of arefrigerant-carrying conduit 42 into a condensate evaporating loopportion or coil 43 iixedly secured to the underneath surface of aplatform-like hot plate member 44, while the outlet of said coil isconnected by a conduit 45 to a dri-wall condenser coil 46 which issuitably secured in good thermal contact to the inner surface of theright side wall of the cabinet outer line 12. The opposite end of coil46 is connected by conduit 47 to a loop or coil 48 immersed in the oilreservoir portion of said motor-compressor unit and this coil, in turn,is connected by conduit 49 to a dri-wall condenser coil 5) which ismounted in good thermal contact to the inner surface of the opposite orleft side wall of the cabinet outer liner 12. The outlet of coil 5t) isconnected by conduit 51 to the static condenser` 35, positioned in theapparatus compartment 32, and the discharge side of this lattercondenser is connected by conduit 52 to a capillary tube 53 whichdischarges into the evaporator 37 that, in turn, is connected by thesuction line conduit 54 to the motor-compressor 33 to complete therefrigeration circuit or system. It will be understood, of course, thatthe above refrigeration apparatus will be charged with a suitablerefrigerant and the system will be operated in accordance with thegenerally understood principles of refrigeration.

The evaporator 37 which, preferably, is of the tube and fin-type isgenerally fashioned with a serpentine shaped refrigerant-carrying coil55 circumseribed by a plurality of spaced-'apart fins 56 and the unit ispositioned so as to be in intimate thermal contact with the inclined oor11a of the cabinet inner liner member i1. An electric heater element 57may, if desired, be buried in the evaporator for purposes of defrostingthe unit at prescribed intervals. This heater element which is generallyserpentine-shaped may be positioned in slot-like openings 53 (Figure l)provided in the tins and dimensioned to receive said element in a tightfrictionally engaging relationship. Such heating element, which may 'oeany one of several such elements generally available on the commercialmarkets, usually is fashioned with a centrally disposed electricalresistance wire 59 surrounded by electrical insulating material 60, inturn, covered with a suitable metallic skin-like covering or sheath 61.The opposite ends of the resistance wire, of said element, are adaptedfor connection to a suitable source of electrical energy (not shown)which, in turn, may be automatically controlled for energizing saidelement at prescribed time intervals, in accordance with practises thatare presently well understood in the art. Since devices for effectingthis automatic operation are somewhat conventional and well known noillustration or description of the details thereof was felt necessary.Of course other well-known defrosting devices may also be used withoutdeparting from the teachings hereof and the present invention islikewise applicable where defrosting is accomplished by the use of hotgases that are passed through the evaporator, as well as in cabinetswhere the defrosting is manually accomplished without the aid ofauxiliary or supplementary devices. Y

The well or reservoir 25 in the floor of the cabinet receives a drainpipe or conduit 62, which is Itightly secured in an opening in thebottom thereof by any suitable or well-known means, and this pipeextends some distance into the well 25 so as to provide a trap-like gasor air seal as will presently be understood. Telescopingly fitted overthe opposite end of the drain pipe 62 is another pipe or conduit 63which extends through the insulation 13 and through an opening in theouter shell 12 into the machinery compartment 32. An annular groove orgrommet-like channel 64 in said latter pipe is adapted to aid in iixedlypositioning and sealing said pipe or tube in place. The conduit 63 isfashioned, preferably, of a suitable low-heat conducting resilientmaterial, such as rubber or any one of the well-known vinyl orpolyethylene plastics adaptable for such purposes, and thus will notfunction to conduct any appreciable amount of heat from one liner of thecabinet to the other. With the conduits 62 and 63 arranged as proposedthere is provided a good moisture seal where each of said conduits passthrough the respective inner and outer liners thereby substantiallyprohibiting the ingress of moisture into the insulation material i3.Positioned directly beneath the open end of the tube 63, in thecompartment 32, is the condensate evaporating coil 43 and its associatedhot plate member 44 which is adapted to support a relatively shallowcondensate collecting and evaporating pan 65. Upwardly extending fingersor tab members 66, preferably punched out of the plate 44, may beprovided for purposes of positioning or holding the pan 65 in place onsaid plate.

The inner end or the end of conduit or drain pipe 62 which extends in anupstanding rim-like or flange fashion into the moisture collecting wellor reservoir 25 is covered with a drain cover member, indicatedgenerally by the reference numeral 67, and thus when a suitable quantityof liquid has collected in the well 2S the cover cooperates therewith toprovide the trap-like positive gas and air seal previously mentioned.This cover, which is fashioned of a suitable high-heat conductingmaterial such as one of the zinc die casting metals or the like,includes a dome-like cap portion 68 dimensioned to fit loosely over theend portion of the pipe 62, and an outwardly haring arm portion 69fashioned integral therewith. A depending circular flange portion 7@ ofsaid cap is provided with a plurality of recesses or slot-like openings7l (only two of which are shown) while the outer edge of the arm 69 isconcavely recessed or grooved as indicated at 72. The radius ofcurvature of this concavature is selected, preferably, to conform tothat of the metallic sheath 6l of the heater element 57 thus providingfor the maximum of physical and thermal Contact surface when used withsaid heater element. When an electric heater element is not employed fordefrosting purposes the edge of said flaring arm need not be concavelyrecessed as then the arm would directly engage the edges of the tins 56,of the evaporator 37, as shown in Figure 12.

As the evaporator 37 is defrosted, by whatever means preferred, themoisture or condensate draining therefrom will flow down the inclinediloor lla of the cabinet inner liner and be collected in the weil orreservoir 25. The openings 71-7i in the drain pipe covering cap 68 will,of course, permit the liquid to rise in the well 25 inside said cap asWell as outside thereof until it reaches the inwardly extendingflange-like edge or rim of pipe 62 whence it will overflow said edge anddrain into the pan 65 where it will be evaporated by the heat of coil43. Upon cessation of the defrosting operation the liquid remaining inthe well 25 will continue to provide a highly effective trap or Iseal toprevent the ingress of air, gas or any other extraneous matter from theoutside by way of the drain tubes 62 and 63, as well as to prevent 'airfrom inside the cabinet leading out through these drain pipes.Eventually, of course, upon resumption of the refrigeration cycle theliquid remaining in said well will freeze, as may also any moisture thatremains on the iloor of the cabinet inner liner, thus enhancing thesealing effect of the trap formed by said liquid. Upon any subsequentdefrosting of the evaporator 37, however, lthe heat therefrom, which istransmitted by Way of the flaring arm 69 to the cap 68, will becomeoperative to melt the frozen liquid in the well 25 and thus permitresumption of flow of liquid condensate through the conduits 62 and 63to the pan 65. Since the evaporator 37 is also in good thermal contactwith the oor 11a of said inner liner any ice formations thereon willlikewise be melted by the heat from the defrost operation.

Since the Ifood containers, of which four principal ones are shown, areidentical in construction only one such unit will be described indetail. Each container, indicated generally by the reference numeral 73,is of the open-wire or basket-type of construction so as to facilitatethe circulation of cooled air into intimate heat exchange relation withthe contents therewithin, and is slidably mounted so that it may berolled out to gain easy access to the contents thereof. The basket isfashioned with a floor or bottom wall 74 of spaced and crossed wire rodsor the like with a transversely extending front trim or handle member74a, and opposite side walls 75--75 of vertically disposed horizontallyspaced wire-like rod elements the ends of which are fixedly secured byany suitable means to a reinforcing rim or edging rail member 76 whilethe opposite ends of said rim are suitably secured to the floor 74. Animperforate rear wall member 77 has the top end edge thereof suitablyaffixed to the rim 76 while the bottom or lower end edge thereof issuitably secured to the oor 74 of said basket. A generally Z-shapedsliding rail or track member 78 is iixedly secured by suitable means toeach side wall of the basket and a roller element 79 is rotatablymounted thereon proximate the inwardly extending end of each of saidslide track members. A cooperating channel or track member 88 ofgenerally C- shape is secured, by suitable means such as the rivetsshown at 81, to each side wall of the cabinet inner liner and a rollerelement 82 is rotatably mounted therein proximate the outwardlyextending end thereof. The roller element 79, on the track 78, ispositioned to ride within the channel and the diameter thereof isdimensioned slightly smaller than the inner spacing of the opposite armsof said channel, while the roller element 82, of the channel track 80,is adapted to ride beneath the upper arm of the track 78 and thus carrya large portion of the weight of said food receptacle. A break 83 in theforward end of the upper arm of the channel 80 permits the rollerelement to be removed therefrom when the basket is fully extended. Alower horizontally extending arm 84, on the track 78, serves to preventthe food basket from being accidentally tilted upwardly, While a break85, in said arm 84 proximate the inwardly extending end portion of thetrack 78, is adapted to cooperate with the break 83, in the channel 80,to effect removal of the food basket from the cabinet when desired.

The embodiment of the cabinet shown herein provides for a shelf 86 ofthe open-Wire type which may be disposed, as illustrated, at the upperportion of the food storage compartment 27. If desired an open-type rack87 having a door or .covering member 88 thereon may be positioned on theshelf A86 for purposes of supporting smaller articles of food orarticles which do not require the ready accessibility of many of theother articles in the cabinet. It will be understood,"however, that thisshelf and rack may be replaced with another food basket receptacle, suchas shown at 73, without deviating from any of the teachings of thepresent invention.

The inner door pan or panel 16, which is fashioned of a suitable andwell-known material such as a polystyrene plastic or a laminatedphenolic resin is formed,` preferably, so as to provide integrallymolded and forwardly projecting shelf members 89 that are spacedvertically one from another a distance that coordinates with the spacingof the food baskets 73. A combination trim and food retainer` member 90positioned across the front of each shelf may function as a decorativeelement as well as a retainer for the food articles positioned on thesedoor shelves. The inner door pan 16 is so spaced from the basketreceptacles that when the basket receptacles and door shelves arecompletely filled with food articles there will still be a spacing thatmay function as a vertical duct-like flue 27a between the baskets andthe door through which air may pass in its journey to or from the aircooling compartment 23.

In the embodiment selected for illustrating a preferred concept of thepresent invention the air circulating means is arranged so that airafter being cooled by its passage into heat exchange relation with theevaporator 37, in the air cooling compartment `28, is discharged by theblower 3S into the tiue 41 from where it passes by way of the elongatedopening 30 into the food storage compartment 27. In said food storagecompartment the individual rear wall members 77, of the food baskets 73,operate to provide a discontinuous bafe which cooperates with the rearand a portion of each side wall, of the inner liner 11, to provide aduct-like air passage or ue 27b which directs the cooled air upwardlyinto the compartment 27. Of course, a certain portion of such air willpass out through each of the openings formed by the vertical spacingbetween successive basket rear wall baftie members 77 and t flow downover the contentsof the baskets. The air that remains at the top of saidrear wall air passageway will, of course, flow over the open shelf 86and rack 87 and the contents thereof and thereafter will flow back downthrough said food compartment to the lower portion thereof. When thebaskets 73 are pretty well filled with food articles the cooled airafter brushing over said articies will ow down past the front thereof inthe tine-like air passage space 27a provided between said baskets andthe door 14. `At the lower end of this passage 27a the air flows throughthe perforated grille-like front wall 31 of the air cooling compartment28 where it is again brought into heat exchange relation with theevaporator 37. As the air passes into heat exchange relation with theevaporator 37 moisture is removed therefrom and deposited in the form offrost on the surfaces` of said evaporator and from there it issubsequently removed by a defrosting operation of the evaporator.Although the preferred embodiment of the proposed cabinet shows the pathof ow of air currents as being from the evaporator up the rear wall anddown the front wall of the cabinet it will be appreciated that suchdirection of air flow might be reversed and a good cooling effectobtained without deviating from the concepts of the present invention.

lf desired, an interior illuminating lighting device 91 may be suitablypositioned in the cabinet so as to light the interior thereof uponopening the door. A plunger-type switch 92 mounted so as to be actuableby the door 14 may be employed to turn the light on and off as the dooris opened and closed. The switch 92, preferably, is of the single-poledouble-throw type having an arm 93 that is biased to one position by aspring such as 94 and is actuated by a plunger 95; This switch may be soarranged that when the door 14 is in a closed position the switch arm 93engages the contact 96 and completes the electrical `circuit throughconductors 97, 98 and 99 to the blower wheel motor 100.

lfood storage compartment 8 When the door is opened the arm 93 96 andopens the blower motor circuit contact 101 and closes 91 throughconductors disengages contact and then subsequently engages the thecircuit to the lighting device 99, 102 and 103.

In operation the refrigeration apparatus functions in conventionalfashion and the thermostatically controlled switch 104 operatesaccording to the demands of the 27, to cycle the refrigeration apparatusand thus fulfill these requirements. The feeler bulb 165 for this latterswitch may be positioned, as is well understood, in any particularlocation whose temperature it is desired be used for controlling theoperation of the refrigeration system. In the instant application it ispreferred that such control be positioned proximate the upper portionand at the rear of the inner liner, as this is the Storace space whichtends to become warm first when the compressor unit is off, althoughsuch preference should not be considered as limiting the presentinvention. lf desired a clip may be provided or the control bulb may bepositioned in a well in order to provide for intimate contact betweenthe bulb and the liner.

The electrical switch 92 is arranged, preferably, so that thethermostatically controlled switch 104 may control both themotor-compressor 33 and the blower motor 10() while the door i4 isclosed, but upon opening of the door the blower fan motor is stoppedalthough the refrigeration apparatus will be allowed to continue if thedemands for refrigeration require such operation. Although it may beotherwise desired it is usually preferred that the blower motor 16d notbe operated while the door 14 of the cabinet is open and the arrangementdescribed herein assures that this blo-wer fan will cease operation whenthe door is opened.

From the foregoing it should now be apparent that a novel and improvedair-blast type upright refrigerated cabinet has been shown anddescribed, and it is to be understood that changes may be made in theconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A refrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart inner and outershells fashioned to define a plurality of compartments having an accessopening in each; a closure member hingedly mounted on the cabinet andarranged to cover said access openings; refrigeration apparatusoperative for cooling the interior of the cabinet; said apparatusincluding an evaporator cooling element and air circulating meansdisposed in one of said compartments; a first air communicating meansbetween said compartments; a plurality of separately fashioned foodstorage receptacles having a wall of cach thereof irnpcrfo-rate andbeing disposed in vertically spaced relation in the other of saidcompartments; said receptacles being further arranged so that all theirimperforate walls are vertically positioned and disposed insubstantially the same plane to provide a baffle-like wall havinghorizontally extending openings therein; said baffle-like wall beingspaced from said inner shell and cooperating therewith to form air ductmeans extending from said first air communicating means inwardly intothe other of said compartments; and having said closure member spacedfrom the access opening of the said one compartment to provide a secondair communicating means between said compartments which cooperates withsaid first air communicating means to effect the flow of air, forced bysaid air circulating means into intimate heat exchange relation withsaid evaporator cooling element, successively in a continuous circuitbetween and through each of said cornpartments.

2. A refrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart inner and outershells fashioned to define a plurality of compartments having an accessopening in each; a closure member hingedly mounted on the cabinet andarranged to cover said access openings; refrigeration apparatusoperative for cooling the interior of the cabinet; said apparatusincluding an evaporator cooling element and air circulating meansdisposed in one of said compartments; a iirst air communicating meansbetween said compartments; a plurality of food storage receptacleshaving a wall of each thereof imperforate and being disposed invertically spaced relation in the other of said compartments; saidreceptacles being further arranged so that all their imperforate wallsare vertically positioned and disposed in substantially the same planeto provide a baie-like wall having a plurality, equal to one less thanthe number of said receptacles, of vertically spaced and horizontallyextending openings therein; said bai'lielike Wall being spaced from saidinner shell and disposed to cooperate therewith to form air duct meansextending inwardly into the other of said compartments from said firstair communicating means; and said closure member being spaced from theaccess opening of the said one compartment to provide a second aircommunicating means between said compartments which cooperates with saidfirst air communicating means to effect the ow of air, forced by saidair circulating means into intimate thermal contact with said evaporatorcooling element, successively in a continuous circuit between andthrough each of said compartments.

3. A refrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart inner and outershells fashioned to dene adjacent food storage and cooling compartmentswith an access opening for each compartment; a closure member hingedlymounted on the cabinet and arranged to cover the access opening of eachof said compartments; refrigeration apparatus operative for cooling theinteriors of said compartments; said apparatus including an evaporatorcooling element and air circulating means disposed in said coolingcompartment; an air passageway opening into both of said compartments; aplurality of food storage receptacles slidably disposed in verticalspaced relation in said food storage compartment; each of saidreceptacles being fashioned of open-wire construction with the rearvertical wall thereof formed of imperforate material; said receptaclesbeing further disposed so that in their fully inserted position in saidcompartments their imperforate walls provide a discontinuous baffle thatcooperates with said inner shell to provide an air duct extending alonga rear wall of said compartment; and having said closure member formedwith a portion that is spaced from the access openings of saidcompartments so as to provide an air communicating means betweencompartments which is adapted to cooperate with said air passageway inproviding for the flow of air, forced by said air circulating means intointimate thermal contact with said evaporator cooling element,successively in a continuous circuit between and through each of saidcompartments.

4. In a refrigerated cabinet the combination, comprising: spaced apartinner and outer shells arranged to define a space divided by a wall-likepartition member into a food storage compartment and an air-coolingcompartment; refrigeration apparatus operative to cool said compartmentsincluding, a refrigerant evaporator cooling element, air circulatingmeans, and refrigerantcarrying conduits; heating means for defrostingsaid evaporator cooling ele'ment; said evaporator cooling element andsaid `air circulating means being disposed remote from said foodystorage compartment; a plurality of food receptacles providing airbaffle means, and having said air baflie means cooperative with saidinner shell to provide an air duct within said food storage compartment;moisture evaporating means including a liquid container disposed inintimate thermal contact with a portion of one of saidrefrigerant-carrying conduits; means for conveying moisture from saidevaporator cooling element to said liquid container including, amoisture collecting member disposed beneath said evaporator coolingelement, and -a drain pipe opening into said moisture collecting memberand discharging into said liquid container; and a cap member positionedover one end of said drain pipe, and having a portion thereof extendinginto intimate heat exchange relation with said evaporator coolingelement whereby heat from the evaporator during defrostin-g thereof iseffective for melting ice formations developed around the opening ofsaid moisture collecting member.

5. 'In a refrigerated cabinet the combination, comprising: spaced apartinner and Vouter shells arranged to define a space divided by awall-like partition member into a food storage compartment and anair-cooling compartment; refrigeration apparatus operative to cool saidcompartments including, a refrigerant evaporator cooling element, aircirculating means, and refnigenantcarrying conduits; heating means lfordefrosting said evaporator cooling element; said evaporator coolingelement and said air circulating means being `disposed in saidair-cooling compartment; a plurality of food receptacles providing airbathe means, and having said air baiiie means cooperative `with saidinner shell to provide an air duct lwithin said food storagecompartment; moisture evaporating means including a liquid containerdisposed in intimat-e thermal contact Vwith -a portion of one of saidrefrigerant-carrying conduits; moisture drainage means including, adrain member disposed beneath said evaporator cooling element a-ndhaving an opening therein, an upstlanding lliange-like wall adjoiningsaid opening, and a drain pipe extending from -said opening anddischarging into said liquid container; and a highly heat-conductive capmember positioned over the flanged opening of said drain member, andhaving a portion thereof that extends into good thermal exchangerelationship with said evaporator cooling element whereby heat from theevaporator during defrosting thereof is effective for melting iceformations developed in the vicinity of said cap and the ange-like wallof said drain opening.

l6. In a refrigerated cabinet the combination, comprising: spaced Kapartinner and outer shells arranged to define a space divided by a wall-likepartition member into a food storage compa-rtment and an air-coolingcompartment; refrigeration apparatus operative to cool said compartmentsincluding, a refrigerant evaporator cooling element, air circulatingmeans, and refr-igerant-canrying conduits; said evaporator coolingelement and said air circulating means being disposed in saidair-cooling compartment; a plurality of food receptacles providing airbaffle means, and having said air baie means cooperative with said innershell to provide an air duct within said food storage compartment; adefrost heater element disposed in intimate thermal contact with saidevaporator cooling element and operative for the defrosting thereof;moist-ure evaporating means including a liquid container disposed inintimate thermal contact with a portion of one of saidrefrigerant-carrying conduits; the iioor of said .air-coolingcompartment bei-ng formed to provide a moisture collecting well havingan opening therein; a drain pipe extending through said opening and intosaid well to provide an upst-anding wali adjoining said opening andadditionally extending through a bottom wall of the cabinet andterminating proximate said liquid container; and a highlyheat-conductive cap positioned over the end of said drain pipe extendinginto said well, and having a portion of said cap disposed so as toextend into good thermal and physical contact with the defrost heaterelement of said evaporator cooling element whereby heat from theevaporator during defrosting thereof is effective for melting ice formedin said moisture collecting well in the vicinity of said ca 7. Arefrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart inner and outer shellsfashioned to define a food storage compartment land an air-coolingcompartment with an access opening for each compartment; a closuremember liingedly mounted on the cabinet and arranged to cover the accessopening of each of said compartments; refrigeration `apparatus operativeto cool said compartments including, 'a refrigerant evaporator coolingelement, air circulating means, and refrigerant-carrying conduits; saidevaporator cooling element and said air circulating means being disposedin said air-cooling compartment; a plurality of air passagewayscommunicating with each of said compartments; a plurality of foodyreceptacles in said food storage compartment providing air bafe meansthat are cooperative with said inner shell to provide air duct meansadjacent a wall of said inner shell and extending through said foodstorage compartment; a defrost heater element disposed so as to be inintimate thermal contact with said evaporator cooling element and with abottom wall of said cooling `compartment and operative to effect thedefrosting of said evaporator cooling element and to melt formations ofice on the bottom wall of said cooling compartment; moist-ureevaporating means including a liquid container disposed in intimatethermal contact with a portion of one of said refrigerant-carryingconduits; means for conveying moisture from said evaporator coolingelement to said liquid container including, a moisture collecting welldisposed beneath said evaporator cooling element, and a drain pipe oneend of which extends into said well and the other end of whichdischarges into said liquid container; and a cover member of highly heatconductive material positioned over the end of said drain pipe extendinginto said well, and having a portion of said cover member extending intointimate thermal contact with said defrost Ihea-ter element whereby heatfrom said defrost heater during defrosting of said -evaporator iseffective for melting ice formations adjoining the said well and saidcover member.

8. In a refrigerated cabinet having a pair of vertically alignedcompartments with a front access opening in each, and a closure member`hingedly mounted to cover the access openings, the combination,comprising: refrigeration apparatus operative to cool the compartmentsand including, a refrigerant evaporator, air moving means, andrefrigerant-carrying conduits; said refrigerant evaporator and said airmoving means being disposed in the one of the compartments; a pair ofair passageways, one in the front and the other in the rearcommunicating with each of the compartments; a plurality of foodreceptacles slid ably positioned in the other of the two compartments;said food receptacles being arranged so that one wall of eachprovidesbathe means which cooperate with the walls of the other of the twocompartments to provide air duct means extending vertically through saidother compartment', a defrost heater element buried in said refrigerantevaporator and operative to effect the defrosting thereof; moistureevaporating means including a liquid container located remote from bothof the compartments and disposed in intimate thermal contact with aportion of said refrigerant-carrying conduits; means for drainingmoisture removed from said refrigerant evaporator, during the defrostingthereof, to said liquid container including, a smp formed in a bottomwall of the one compartment, and pipe means for conveying moisture fromsaid sump to said liquid container; said pipe having one end thereofextending inwardly into said sump and providing a trap to contain asmall quantity of moisture in said sump; and a cover member of highlyheat conductive material positioned over the inwardly extending end ofsaid pipe and having a portion of said cover member extending intointimate thermal Contact with said defrost heater ele ment whereby heatfrom said defrost heater during defrosting of said refrigerantevaporator is operative for melting ice formations in said sump.

9. A refrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart inner and outershells fashioned to define a food storage compartment and an air-coolingcompartment with an access opening for each compartment; a closuremember 'f2 hingedly mounted on the cabinet and arranged to cover theaccess opening of each of said compartments; refrigeration apparatusoperative to cool said compartments and including, a refrigerantevaporator cooling element, air circulating means, andrefrigerant-carrying conduits; said evaporator cooling element and saidair circulating means being disposed in said air-cooling compartment; aplurality of air passageways communicating with each of saidcompartments; a plurality of food receptacles in said food storagecompartment providing air baffle means that are cooperative with saidinner shell to provide air duct means adjacent a wall of said innershell and extending through said food storage compartment; a defrostheater element disposed so as to be in intimate thermal contact Vwithsaid evaporator cooling element and with a bottom wall of said aircooling compartment and operative to effect the defrosting of saidevaporator cooling element and to melt formations of ice on the bottomwall of said cooling compartment; moisture evaporating means includ inga liquid container disposed in intimate thermal contact with a portionof one of said refrigerant-carrying conduits; a moisture collecting Welldisposed beneath said refrigerant evaporator cooling element; said Wellhaving an opening therein and an upstanding rim around said opening;conduit means for draining moisture from said well to said liquidcontainer; and a cover member positioned over said upstanding rim, andhaving a portion thereof extending into intimate thermal contact withsaid defrost heater element whereby heat from said defrost heater duringdefrosting of said evaporator is effective for melting ice formations inthe immediate vicinity of said upstanding rim and said cover.

l0. A refrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart Vinner and outershells fashioned to dene a food storage compartment and an air-coolingcompartment with an access opening for each compartment; a closuremember hingedly mounted on the cabinet and arranged to cover the accessopening of each of said compartments; refrigeration apparatus operativeto cool said compartments and including, a refrigerant evaporatorcooling element, air circulating means, and refrigerant-carryingconduits; said evaporator cooling element and said air circulating meansbeing disposed in said air-cooling compartment; a plu rality of airpassageways communicating with each of said compartments; a plurality offood receptacles in said food storage compartment providing air bafemeans that are cooperative with said inner shell to provide air ductmeans adjacent a wall of said inner shell and extending through saidfood storage compartment; a defrost heater element disposed so as to bein intimate thermal contact with said evaporator cooling element andwith a bottom wall of said air cooling compartment and operative toeffect the defrosting of said evaporator cooling element and to meltformations of ice on the bottom wall of said cooling compartment;moisture evaporating means including a liquid container disposed inintimate thermal contact with a portion of one of saidrefrigerant-,carrying conduits; a moisture collecting Well disposedbeneath said refrigerant evaporator cooling element; said Well having anopening therein and an upstanding rim around said opening; lowheatconducting conduit means extending through a bottom wall of the cabinetand into the vicinity of said liquid container for draining moisturefrom said Well to said liquid container; and a cover member positionedover said upstanding rim, and having a portion thereof that extends intointimate thermal contact with said defrost heater whereby `heattherefrom during defrosting of said evaporator is effective for meltingice formations in the immediate vicinity of said upstanding rim and saidcover.

ll. A `refrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart inner and outer`shells fashioned to define a food storage compartment and anair-cooling compartment with an access opening for each compartment; aclosure member fhingedly mounted on the cabinet and arranged to covervthe access opening of each of said compartments; refrigerationapparatus operative to cool said compartments and including, Iarefrigerant evaporator cooling element, air circulating means, landrefrigerant-carrying conduits; said evaporator cooling element and saidair circulating means being disposed in said lair-cooling compartment; aplurality of air passageways communicating with each of saidcompartments; a plurality of food receptacles in said food -storagecompartment providing air braille mean-s that tare cooperative with saidinner shell to provide |air duct means .adjacent a wall of said innershell and extending through said food 'storage compartment; Ia defrostheater element disposed so las to be in intimate thermal contact withsaid evaporator cooling element 'and with a -bottom wall of said aircooling compartment `and operative to effect the defrosting of saidevaporator cooling element and to heat the bottom wall of said aircooling compartment; moisture evaporati-ng means including ya liquidcontainer disposed in intimate thermal contact with `a portion of one ofsaid refrigerant-carrying conduits; a moisture collecting well disposedbeneath said refrigerant evaporator cooling element; said well havingyan opening therein and an upstanding rim around said opening; conduitmeans for draining moisture trom said well to said liquid container; yacap member surmounting said upstanding rim; said cap being fashionedwith a top vvall trom which depends 1an .annularly extending Wall havingopenings therein which latter wall extends into .said well; said capadditionally being provided `with an :arm of high-heat-conductingmaterial which, when said cap is in position surmounting said opstandingrim, extends into intimate thermal contact with said defrost heaterelement whereby heat therefrom dur-ing defrosting of said evaporator iseffective -for melting lice formations in the immediate vicinity of saidopstanding rim and said cap.

12. A condensate disposal system for a refrigerator including a cabinet,air circulating means, and a refrigerant compressor, a condenser .andvan evaporator with refrigerant-carrying conduits connectedtherebetween, heating means for defrosting said evaporator, a portion ofsaid conduit connecting said compressor with said condenser beingdisposed in intimate heat exchange relation with a supporting platemember and disposed beneath the bottom wall of the cabinet, a liquidreceptacle positioned in `a heat exchange relation on said supportingplate, a drain extending through the bottom wall of the cabinet oppositesaid liquid receptacle, a drain cap covering one end of said drain, saiddrain cap having a highly heat conductive portion thereon that extendsinto intimate heat exchange relation with said evaporator whereby heatfrom the evaporator upon defrosting thereof becomes operative to meltice formed in the drain in the vicinity of said drain cap.

13. In :a refrigerated cabinet having Ia defrost heater elem-ent inintimate heat exchange relation with the evaporator cooling element ofthe refrigeration apparatus thereof, `a condensate disposal system,comprising: a liquid -receptacle disposed in intimate heat exchangerelation with a portion of the refrigeration apparatus of the cabinet; adrain vfor collecting condensate from beneath the evaporator anddischarging it into said liquid container; a cap covering one end ofsaid drain; said cap having a highly heat conductive portion thereondisposed in good thermal and physical contact with the defrost heaterelement whereby heat therefrom upon defrosting of the evaporator isoperative to melt ice formed in the drain in the vicinity of said draincap.

14. In la refrigerated cab-inet the combination, comprising: spacedIapart. inner and outer shells arranged to define a space divided by :awall-like partition member into ya food storage compartment and an fair-cooling compartment; air-communication means between said compartments;refrigeration lapparatus operative to cool said compartments including,a refrigerant evaporator cooling element, air circulating means, andrefrigerant-carrying conduits; said Ievaporator cooling element and saidIair circulating means being disposed remote trom 'said food storagecompartment; la plurality .of food receptacles providing fair baillemeans ina vvall of each thereof, and having said air baille means cooerative with said inner shell to provid-e an Iair duct within said foodstorage comprartment; heating means for defrosting said evaporator;moisture evaporating means including a liquid container disposed inintimate thermal contact with ya portion of one of saidlrefrigerant-carrying conduits; means :for draining moisture from saidevaporator cooling element to said liquid container including, yamoisture collecting well disposed beneath said evapora-tor coolingelement, and a drain pipe extending into said well `and discharging intosaid liquid container; and 1a cover member fashioned of good thermallyconductive material overlying one end of said drain pipe, and having 1aportion thereof extending into physical contact with said evaporatorcooling element whereby heat from said evaporator during defrostingthereof is effective for melting ice formations developed i-n themoisture collecting well in the vicinity of said covering member.

15. A refrigerated cabinet, comprising: spaced apart inner :and outershells fashioned to define an upper and a lower compartment `adjacentthereto with access openings in each compartment; va closure memberhingedly mounted on the cabinet and arranged to cover said 'accessopenings; refrigeration Iappanltus operative tor cooling the interior:of the cabinet; said Iapparatus including an evaporator cooling element'and air circulating means disposed in said lower compartment; 1a first`air passageway between 'said compartments; a plurality of individualfood storage -containers fashioned with at least one wall of eachcontainer imperforate and being disposed in vertically spaced relationin said upper compartment; said containers being further disposed sothat at least one imperforate wall of each is vertically positioned anddisposed in substantially the same plane so as to provide 'a baille-likewal'l having an opening therein between each such container; saidbaille-like wall being spaced 4from a proximate wall of said inner shelland cooperating therewith to form fair duct means extending from saidiirst air passageway upwardly into the upper compartment and having saidclosure member spaced from the access opening of said lower compartmentto provide a second lair passageway between said compartments whichcooperates with said rst air passageway 'to effect the flow of Yair,forced by said `air circulating means into intimate heat exchangerelation with said evaporator cooling element, successively in iacontinuous circuit between and through each of said compartments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

